Department for Transport

Transport Update

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: My Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport (Andrew Stephenson), has made the following Ministerial Statement.The "Golborne Link," part of the HS2 Crewe – Manchester scheme, is a proposed c.13 mile connection which would branch off the main HS2 line towards Manchester near Knutsford, in Cheshire, to rejoin the West Coast Main Line (WCML) near Golborne, just south of Wigan. Construction was due to start in the early 2030s and it was due to open in the late 2030s or early 2040s as part of the second stage of HS2 services to Scotland. In October 2020, the government established the independent Union Connectivity Review, led by the chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, to consider how best to improve transport connectivity between the nations of the UK. Sir Peter's final report, in November 2021, set out that the Golborne Link would not resolve all the rail capacity constraints on the WCML between Crewe and Preston. He recommended that the Government should reduce journey times and increase rail capacity between England and Scotland by upgrading the WCML north of Crewe and by doing more work on options for alternative northerly connections between HS2 and the WCML. Ahead of the Government’s response to the Union Connectivity Review, we can confirm the Government will look again at alternatives which deliver similar benefits to Scotland as the Golborne link, so long as these deliver for the taxpayer within the £96bn envelope allocated for the Integrated Rail Plan. We will look at the potential for these alternatives to bring benefits to passengers sooner, allowing improved Scotland services from Manchester and Manchester Airport, as well as from Birmingham and London. HS2 trains will continue to serve Wigan and Preston, as well as Lancaster, Cumbria and Scotland. Government therefore intends to remove the Golborne link from the High-Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill after Second Reading. That means that we will no longer be seeking the powers to construct the link as part of this scheme. The Crewe-Manchester HS2 mainline will remain in the Bill as before. Plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail will also be unaffected. Our plans for the first-stage HS2 services to Scotland in Phases 1 and 2a of the scheme (between London and the West Midlands, and the West Midlands and Crewe) will also be unaffected, with HS2 trains operating from London to Scotland when services begin running, in the late 2020s or early 2030s. We will publish a Supplement to the January 2022 HS2 Crewe – Manchester scheme Strategic Outline Business Case, setting out the implications of removing the Golborne Link, prior to Second Reading. I am also publishing revised safeguarding Directions for the Crewe – Manchester Scheme to reflect the Bill’s limits and protect the land that may be required for the construction and operation of the high speed railway. I am maintaining safeguarding along the Golborne Link while alternatives are considered. This means we plan to keep existing compensation programmes in place for affected homeowners so that they can still access support as needed. The Government periodically reviews land requirements needed for the project and updates the extent of safeguarding accordingly. A copy of the Safeguarding Directions will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and made publicly accessible online.

Cabinet Office

Publication of Sir Robert Francis QC’s infected blood compensation study

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: My Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and HM Paymaster General (Michael Ellis QC MP) has today made the following statement:Today the Government is publishing the study by Sir Robert Francis QC, which was commissioned by my predecessor as Paymaster General, the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP.The study makes recommendations for a framework for compensation and redress for the victims of infected blood, which can be ready to implement upon the conclusion of the Infected Blood Inquiry, should the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations require it.Sir Robert’s study is comprehensive and detailed, and reflects the contributions of many individuals directly affected by infected blood, their recognised legal representatives, and campaign groups representing the infected and affected communities, many of whom participated in a series of meetings held by the study from July 2021 to February 2022. Sir Robert makes clear the importance of these contributions by introducing his study with a collection of moving, heartbreaking and sometimes shocking quotations from some of those who spoke to him. It is right that their views and experiences should be at the heart of his work, and I would like once again to thank all those who contributed to the study and shared their experiences with Sir Robert. I do not underestimate how difficult this must have been for many, and I am grateful for their courage.Sir Robert will give evidence about his work to the Infected Blood Inquiry on 11th and 12th July. Before then, it is important that the Inquiry, and recognised legal representatives of its infected and affected core participants, have an opportunity to consider his work; it is most important that the government is able to reflect upon Sir Robert’s evidence to the Inquiry in considering his study.There is a great deal of complexity to the issues that the study covers and a wide range of factors to be taken into account in considering Sir Robert’s recommendations. This analysis cannot be completed hurriedly but officials across government are focussing on this so that the government can be ready to respond quickly to the Inquiry’s recommendations, as was intended when the study was commissioned. I will update the House as this work progresses.I would like, once again, to thank Sir Robert and his team for their work and the timely delivery of the study.I have asked that a copy of the Study be deposited in the libraries of both Houses in Parliament.

Data Sharing under the Digital Economy Act 2017

Lord True: My Hon Friend the Parliamentary Secretary (Mrs Heather Wheeler MP) has today made the following statement:The Cabinet Office's Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) has today published the Government’s response to the public consultation on data sharing to support early learning and childcare in Scotland.In January 2022, the UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Government consulted on draft regulations to enable data sharing to target funded early learning and childcare (ELC) for certain 2 year olds in Scotland. The consultation set out draft regulations to allow data sharing between HMRC, DWP, the Scottish Government and Scottish local authorities in order to help identify and contact households that have a 2 year old eligible for funded early learning and childcare. The regulations would create an objective for the purpose of which relevant data may be shared under section 35 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (otherwise known as the “public service delivery power”).There were 69 responses during the 8 week consultation period. Responses were decidedly positive. A clear majority of respondents agreed that the proposed data share would improve and target a service to eligible households and improve their wellbeing. Respondents also agreed that the data sharing would deliver tangible benefits to households, including early stage support to promote education, health and social equalities.Importantly, the majority of respondents agreed that the personal data items to be shared - specifically including the customer (parent or carer) name, address and National Insurance number (for unique identification), as well as a child(ren) indicator to confirm the existence of a child, or children, is limited to what is necessary and consistent with ELC service delivery.The UK Government is reassured that the responses are broadly positive and welcome the helpful input from respondents. As the Scottish Parliament can only approve proposals for new objectives which solely involve specified Scottish bodies permitted to make use of the public service delivery power, and the proposed objective would involve disclosure and processing of data held by UK departments (HMRC and DWP), the draft regulations must be taken through the UK Parliament by the UK Government. The UK Government will take forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.I have asked that the government response be deposited in the libraries of both Houses in Parliament and published on GOV.UK.